Mistakes when using air conditioning in a car

Many drivers don't really know how to use air conditioner in car correctly, and at the same time make mistakes that lead both to discomfort and can be harmful to health.

Among the most common of them is the inclusion of the air conditioner before airing the cabin, incorrect direction of air flow, abuse of use, untimely and simply incorrect maintenance of the air conditioning system.

The essence of the error	Aftermath	How to prevent
Operating errors
No ventilation	Dust and benzenes from plastic interior parts enter the respiratory system	Before starting the air conditioner, ventilate the interior for 3 ... 5 minutes
A sharp drop in temperature in the heat	Fogging windows outside	Decrease the interior temperature gradually
Direction of air towards you	The occurrence of colds	The air from the deflectors must be directed upwards or onto the windshield
Low air temperature from the air conditioner	The occurrence of colds and cardiovascular diseases	The difference between the temperature of the air and coming from the air conditioner should be 5 ... 7 degrees
Maintenance errors
Ignoring the coolant check	Decrease in system efficiency, its wear and tear	Regularly check the pressure and condition of freon in the system
Not using the air conditioner in winter	Clogging of the system, thickening of the oil in the compressor	Once a month, turn on the air conditioner in winter at a positive air temperature
Using the wrong freon	Reduced refrigerant performance, reduced efficiency of the air conditioning system	When replacing, fill in the brand of freon recommended by the automaker
Irregular system cleaning	The appearance in the air ducts of harmful bacteria, dust, unpleasant odors	Cleaning the air conditioning system twice a year
Using a mosquito net in front of the air conditioner radiator	Decreased system efficiency, the compressor is running out of steam	Do not use a mesh, instead regularly clean the radiator from dust
Too much freon in the system	The system is worn out, reducing its efficiency	Carry out the replacement of freon in the appropriate car services
Frequent washing of the air conditioner radiator	The appearance of corrosion on its body	Wash the radiator regularly, but not often, about 2 times a year
Untimely replacement of the cabin filter	The appearance of unpleasant odors, dust and pathogens	Replacing the cabin filter according to the regulations

The main mistakes in using an air conditioner

Despite the fact that air conditioning is installed in most modern cars, not many drivers know how to use the air conditioner in the car. This leads to discomfort when traveling, especially long-distance, as well as the occurrence of colds and lung diseases. There are four main mistakes in total.

1. Ventilation. This is done to remove harmful substances that form during the evaporation of plastic interior parts.
2. Use only in hot weather. in order for the windows not to fog up from the outside, you need to turn on the “air conditioner” beforehand, before the onset of heat and gradually reducing the temperature of its air.
3. Air flow on yourself. A cold stream of air directed to the chest area can lead to colds and cardiovascular diseases.
4. Air temperature too low. A sharp drop in outside air and air in the cabin can lead to colds.

However, in addition to knowing how to use the air conditioner in a car in the summer, you need to know the rules of operation and maintenance. Making mistakes, the air conditioner will not only work worse, but may even fail.

Mistakes when servicing the air conditioner in the car

Experts identify eight basic mistakes that car owners often make when performing self-maintenance of the air conditioning system.

• Irregularly check the refrigerant pressure in the system. It is believed that any year up to 10% of freon escapes from the system.
• Do not turn on the air conditioner for preventive maintenance in winter. It is necessary to turn on the air conditioner in winter in order to lubricate the rubber seals and hoses of the system during the cold season, as well as in order to prevent corrosion on metal surfaces. You need to turn on the air conditioner only when the car is in a warm room (box, garage) or during a thaw (at temperatures from + 2 ° С ... + 3 ° С and above). Turn on the air conditioner at least once every three to four weeks.
• Use the wrong freon for refueling with your own hands. Before you refuel or replace freon in the system, you need to know exactly what type it is recommended to use by the manufacturer of the air conditioning system. Otherwise, a situation may occur when the freon does not match the oil in the compressor, which can lead to a quick failure of the compressor, as well as low efficiency of the entire system.

Disinfection and cleaning of the air conditioning system

• Do not do antibacterial treatment of the evaporator radiator. It should be carried out twice a year - in spring and autumn. The air conditioning system in a car should be cleaned regularly once or twice a year (usually in spring and autumn). You can do this yourself with the help of air conditioner cleaners.
• Irregularly clean the radiator of the air conditioner from debris. This leads to a decrease in the efficiency of the system and creates an additional load on the compressor. Similar problems arise when a mosquito net is installed in front of the radiator, designed to filter dust and debris.
• Recharge freon into the system with an overabundance. This is typical when self-refueling freon from a can. This leads to a decrease in the efficiency of the system for wear at excess pressure. Therefore, it is better not to engage in refueling on your own, but instead seek help from the appropriate car service.
• Clean the radiator often. The radiator and the entire system need to be cleaned periodically, but you should not abuse it. Frequent washing can lead to corrosion on the metal surface of the radiator, especially if this is done using active foam.
• Neglect regular cabin filter replacement. It must be changed in accordance with the recommendations of the automaker. However, on average, the frequency of replacing the cabin filter is about 10 ... 20 thousand kilometers. Using a dirty cabin air filter will cause dust and harmful microbes to enter the cabin air, as well as unpleasant odors.

How to properly use the air conditioner in the car

Correct operation of the machine air conditioner implies the following rules:

• Ventilate the interior before turning on the air conditioner for 3 ... 5 minutes.
• Do not direct cold air into the chest area of ​​the driver and/or front passenger. Cold air should go to the windshield or side windows or up.
• The temperature difference between the outside air and the air from the air conditioner should be within 5 ... 7 degrees Celsius.
• After switching on in the heat, set a moderate temperature. After that, it can be gradually reduced.
• On long trips with the air conditioner turned on, the interior should be ventilated every half an hour or an hour.
• Do not use air conditioning in hot weather.
• Turn on in winter to prevent the system at a positive temperature.

How to use air conditioning in a car with a child

Many motorists, especially mothers, are interested in the question - how to use air conditioning in a car with a child. Some of them do not turn it on at all, fearing that their child will get sick. However, you need to understand that if a child is accustomed to an air conditioner from an early age, then on the contrary, this will develop immunity to the corresponding diseases in the future. The main thing is to know the principle of adjusting the temperature and air flow in the car.

When transporting a child in a car with air conditioning on, the following rules must be observed:

1. Sudden temperature changes are not allowed. The temperature difference in the street and in the cabin under the appropriate conditions should not exceed 5 ... 7 degrees Celsius.
2. You need to gradually reduce the temperature in the cabin. An approximate algorithm is one or two degrees every 20 minutes on long trips.
3. Before driving, the car interior must be ventilated according to the above algorithms.
4. Normal humidity in the cabin should be in the range of 40% ... 70%. If it is lower, the interior must be ventilated, but the air should not overheat quickly. In parallel with this, it is possible to forcefully moisten the nasal mucosa of a child with the help of special saline solutions, which are sold in pharmacies. this must be done every 30 minutes.
5. The flow of cooled air with reflectors is best directed to the ceiling or windshield. It is possible at the feet of the driver or front passenger (if the child is sitting in the back).
6. The airflow rate must be set to a small or medium value.
7. If a child regularly drives in a car with air conditioning, then the issue of cleaning it and preventing the condition is also more acute. Therefore, relevant issues should be given due attention.

Compliance with these simple rules will allow you to carry a child in an air-conditioned car without fear for his health.

Tips for the correct operation of the car air conditioner

There are also some tips regarding both the operation and maintenance of machine air conditioners, and the use of the ventilation system as a whole.

Dry evaporator

Before parking the car, it is recommended to dry the air conditioner evaporator using ventilation. However, the air conditioner itself must first be turned off in order for the evaporator to take on a normal temperature. This is done so that, firstly, dust and microbes do not settle on the evaporator, and secondly, this will save it from premature failure.

Don't use conditioner

The functions of the machine air conditioner include not only cooling the air in the car, but also dehumidifying it from moisture. By the way, in many cars, the “condo” is turned on forcibly during wet weather or rain, when the air in the cabin becomes too humid and moisture begins to condense on the windows.

So, on long trips, you need to periodically (about once every half an hour or an hour) turn off the air conditioner and open the doors or windows of the car so that fresh air with optimal humidity enters the cabin. However, this should not be done for a very long time, so that the air in the cabin does not get too hot.

Use recirculation mode

In recirculation mode, the air for the air conditioning system is not supplied from the outside, but is “pumped” cyclically through this very system. This is done primarily in order to cool the air in the cabin faster. it is also recommended to turn on the recirculation mode if the outdoor air temperature exceeds +25°C. In most modern cars, the recirculation mode turns on automatically when the air conditioner is activated.

Summary

When buying a car or installing an air conditioner, do not be too lazy to read the rules for operating an air conditioner in a car. Especially about the modes of its operation and the frequency of maintenance. This will allow not only to use it comfortably, but also to preserve your own health and the health of people in the same car with you.